Northern Irishman battles to become third player in history to win three
majors by the age of 25 despite rally by Spaniard during final round

So, as predicted, the final round of the 143rd Open was a triumphant procession for Rory McIlroy – yet only for the very last yards of the 72nd hole.

But then, history should not come easily and the Northern Irishman was most definitely made to work for the honour of becoming the first European to win three of the four majors.

Real champions can withstand real pressure and, thanks to Sergio García, the tension verged on excruciating as McIlroy’s six-shot lead began to tumble.

The 25-year-old hung tough, however, and in his two-shot victory, he revealed a new facet to his evermore impressive armoury. You cannot win every one of your majors by eight shots.

When McIlroy tapped in for a 71 and a 17-under total, he smiled and subtly punched his fist. It was the reaction of a player who expected to deliver and where this takes him will be everyone’s guess. He can complete the career grand slam at the Masters next year and join the greats.

For now he can rejoice in being the youngest player to win three-quarters of the slam after Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. These are the calibre of names to which he is truly beginning to draw comparison.

After hugging his mother, Rosie, on the green, and then his father, Gerry – who is reportedly £100,000 the richer after placing £200 on his son to win at odds of 500-1 a decade ago – McIlroy embraced García. We should all give thanks to the Spaniard for making this an enthralling drama with his courageous 66.

So much for a nerveless coronation, so much for McIlroy’s opening birdie, courtesy of a 15-footer, draining his rivals of all their spirit early.

García belied his reputation, refusing to give up on his dream, despite starting the day seven behind. Eight years ago here at Royal Liverpool, García wore all yellow in the final group and Woods texted friends to say he “bludgeoned Tweetie Pie”. Well, for so long out there the canary had a gas. Of the active pros, only Lee Westwood (66) has played more majors without winning, but on his 64th attempt García, so often the bridesmaid, threatened to charge the altar.

García went to the turn in three-under, birdieing the first, holing from 20 feet on the third and picking up another on the par-five fifth. When McIlroy had consecutive bogeys on the fifth and sixth his seven-shot advantage had been reduced to three, with Rickie Fowler, McIlroy’s playing partner, within four. There had been the air of certainty, but suddenly anxiety filled the atmosphere.

There were some heckles, as the excitement, and possibly the beer, affected some in the crowd. Fowler had to stand off a putt as some idiot screamed “Sergio!” Eventually, the man was caught and evicted after McIlroy picked him out of the crowd after he yelled abuse at the Northern Irishman on the 16th tee.

There were daft heckles on tees and from either side of the fairways as sections let themselves down. It was a shame that the faultless behaviour of the 2006 Hoylake crowd was not replicated here, although it was, as they say, a tiny minority.

Back to the action and McIlroy restored some order to proceedings when holing a 15-footer for a birdie on the par-three ninth; his lead was four at the turn. Not for long. A García eagle from eight feet on the par-five 10th put the canary back among the pigeons. He was within two shots – just two – and, although McIlroy duly birdied the 10th, a bogey on the par-three 13th, after a terrible, pulled tee-shot, brought it back again.

García had enjoyed outrageous luck on the 12th when his sliced approach flew into the grandstand and bounced out to the edge of the green. But no amount of good fortune was going to save him from a bogey when he left it in the bunker on the 15th. Fowler birdied the 15th to move alongside García and with three to go, McIlroy was three clear. McIlroy’s legion of fans breathed a little calmer.

The one concern for them were the two par-fives in Hoylake’s closing trio, which can create wild fluctuations. García had a 25-footer for eagle, but left it short. He was within two again, but after a ridiculously long drive – after which he fingered the heckler – McIlroy hit the green and so almost putted in for eagle. Three up, two to play – all over in matchplay and with McIlroy in this mood, practically over in strokeplay as well.

There was one moment of angst when McIlroy’s approach on the 18th located a bunker. Yet he only needed a six and when he splashed out to 12 feet he could start the celebration. Rose McIlroy had not been at the 2011 US Open or the 2012 US PGA, so she received first hugs. “This one is for you mum,” McIlroy said at the prize-giving.

García was left to share second on 15-under with Fowler (67), with the veteran American Jim Furyk (65) in fourth on 13-under and two Australians in Adam Scott (65) and Mark Leishman (65) in a tie for fifth. Two more Irishman enjoyed top-10 finishes in Shane Lowry (65) and Graeme McDowell (67) on 10-under. The best-placed Englishman was David Howell (68) in a tie for 15th on eight-under alongside the Scot Stephen Gallacher (68).

And then there was Woods, way down in 69th after a 75 to end on six-over.

We should have anticipated much more after his back surgery less than four months ago. Woods actually stated his desire to play in the Ryder Cup and said he would pick himself if he was captain.

Except, Tom Watson is captain and, as a 64-year-old, he might find it difficult to select a 38-year-old who he beat by five shots at the Open. Watson shot a 68 to finish on one-over. Another supreme performance in another supreme Open, with a supreme winner in McIlroy.